Diamond Fret Crowning File And Long Neck Rest

Designed and Made By Chris Alsop in his workshops in Derbyshire, UK.

This is our diamond fret crowning file with Oak handle (TF085) and our softwood neck rest (TA005).

Frets need to be rounded to remove the flat tops after levelling, or when you dress frets to remove wear grooves. A rounded fret top is best achieved by using a rounded file !

The diamond fret crowning file has a diamond file with a concave profile mounted in a shaped handle made of English Oak.

These files last for many fretboards : diamond is the hardest known substance known and many little diamonds are embedded in a surface plating. As the surface wears new diamonds are exposed.  They are equally long lasting on stainless frets and normal nickel silver frets. The file is permanently attached to the handle.

The diamond file itself is 2.5mm wide by about 35mm long and is concave to match the fret profile - when in use the file stays on the fret very well, there's no chatter.

An excellent finish results and a fully polished fret is quickly obtained by going through the sandpaper from coarse to fine grit: 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 and finally 2500 grit - it's only a couple of rubs with each and when you use the spring steel strip to protect the fretboard then the paper glides across the surface of the fret and strip easily.

I have geared the design of this so that its comfortable use, economic to produce, but has the full advantages of diamond abrasion.  It weighs only about 40 grammes.

As always, before using any type of abrasive tools on a guitar it is recommended suitable masking (such as fretboard protector strip) is used to protect the fretboard wood and other parts of the guitar.

The long neck rest (or caul) has a shaped cork surface (4mm thick) attached to a solid wood block made from RedWood Pine. 

The back of a guitar neck sits in a stable position on the cork. The cork provides an excellent surface that will not scratch the  guitar and will not allow the guitar to slip. 

There is also a layer of cork on the base of the caul. 

Dimensions
Fret Crowning File Dimensions:

•  35mm  File Length
•  2.5mm File Width
•  100mm Handle Length
•  Fine Grit Diamond File

Neck Rest Dimensions
•  240mm Long 
•  80mm   Wide
•  50mm   High

Fret Crowning File Features

• Very comfortable to hold file.
• Concave cutting file to match fret profile.
• Diamond files cut equally well when moving forwards or backwards with NO chatter.
• Suitable for Stainless Steel frets.

Diamond Files & Finishing Effort

We have used a oak handle which is used in many of our other fretting tools.  Diamond Files are really the best surfaces developed by mankind for abrasion - the resulting surface is  by far the smoothest hand filed surface possible - hence less finishing and polishing!

FREE WITH THIS ITEM


•  A set of sandpaper strips of grits: 800, 1000, 1200, 1500,2000, 2500. (see photo)
•  Spring Steel Fretboard Protector strip to protect your fretboard.
•  Advice sheet on use of these tools
•  A comprehensive guide to fret replacement

Other Products

We produce a wide range of guitar tools. All tools are produced from our workshop in Woodville, Derbyshire, UK by Chris Alsop.

See our eBay shop for Fret Pullers and Cutters, Fret Bevel Diamond Files, Fretboard Protectors, Crowning and  Dressing Diamond Files, Guitar Neck Rests, Fret Levelling Diamond Files, Fretting hammers, Fret Polishing Kits and String Action Gauges.

Also, see our eBay shop for a wide variety of Custom Made Guitar Saddles, Nuts and Pins - all made by Chris Alsop to customer specified dimensions. We  offer these components in many materials, specialising in crafted high quality Ox Bone, Buffalo Horn and European Hardwoods.

Shipping

• Fast & Secure Shipping : We ship all our items by Royal Mail Tracked Services.
• Discounts : On multiple item orders, shipping costs are discounted by 75% on additional items
• International (Non UK) Orders : Please note that the buyer is responsible for payment of any customs and import duties on the items.